Maharashtra, Goa lawyers demand use of Marathi in HC

Mumbai, Dec 13 (UNI) The Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa today staged a day-long 'dharna' here at Azad Maidan to press their long pending demands including declaring Marathi as the authorised language of the Bombay High Court.

Council Chairman Bharat Deshmukh said if the draft amendment bill was passed by the legislature, the litigants would be able to file matters in the High Court along with Marathi documents.

He said presently the state government authorities and corporation were passing orders in Marathi due to which the litigants had to get the documents translated and typed in English for submission in court, which put them under financial burden.

The Bar Council also demanded to form new Maharashtra Advocates Welfare Fund Act. This Act will provide retirement benefits to lawyers with sole contributions from the lawyers, Mr Deshmukh said, adding, '' We have already studied and submitted suggestions in this regard to the Government a year ago. But, till date nothing has been done.'' To streamline the justice delivery system, the Council demanded that all litigations, which were at present being conducted by the revenue authorities, should be brought under the ambit of the civil court.

The agitators also demanded a piece of land to construct Vakil Bhavan.

Meanwhile, members of the Nashik Bar Association supported the agitation by wearing red ribbons to show their support for the demand of use of Marathi in the High Court.

UNI